Upcoming live dates for Promoe from Looptroop:

03/24 - Konrad (Link Up), Västerås (SWE) (release party and tour premiere)
03/26 - Kompaniet (Fatmilk), Göteborg (SWE)
03/27 - Umeå Open, Umeå (SWE)
03/28 - Kägelbanan, Stockholm (SWE)
03/29 - John Dee, Oslo (NOR)
03/30 - Vega, Copenhagen (DK)
03/31 - Magnet, Berlin (GER)
04/01 - Echo Chamber, Hamburg (GER)
04/03 - Waterfront, Rotterdam (NL)
04/04 - Melkweg, Amsterdam (NL)
04/05 - Cooky's, Frakfurt (GER)
04/06 - Manufaktur, Schorndorf (GER)
04/07 - Szene, Vienna (AUS)
04/08 - Remise, Wil (CH)
04/11 - L'usine, Genf (CH)
04/12 - Treibhaus, Innsbruck (AUS)
04/13 - Orangehouse, Munich (GER)
04/14 - Studio 672, Cologne (GER)
04/15 - Cafe Central, Weinheim (GER)
04/16 - Charlatan, Gent (BEL)
04/17 - Grand Mix, Tourcoing (FR)
04/18 - Exhaus, Trier (GER)

Except for the release party, all shows will be supporting Atmosphere.

Promoe from Looptroop will release his new solo album "The Long Distance Runner" on March 22 and will head out on the road across Scandinavia and Europe soon after. The new single "These Walls Don't Lie" comes out mid-February and a video is in the works from the people at Stylewar, the same people who worked on the clip for "Fly Away".

Promoe's (Looptroop) second single from his forthcoming album "The Long Distance Runner" is called "These Walls Don't Lie" and the 12" is just about to hit stores. Production was handled by DJ Large and you can hear a sample here: http://www.looptroop.nu/music/soundclips/thesewalls.mp3

Promoe and Cosmic from Looptroop have put up a full report from their trip to Jamaica where they recorded some tracks for Promoe's upcoming second solo album "The Long Distance Runner". They also have some new European tourdates:

11/26 - Ecochamber, Hamburg (GER)
11/27 - Cadillac, Oldenubrg (GER)
11/28 - LVC, Leiden (NL)
11/29 - Tivoli, Utrecht (NL)
11/30 - FZW, Dortmund (GER)
11/05 - Zoobizarre, Bordeaux (FRA)
12/06 - K.G.B., Barcelona (ESP)
12/07 - Hip hop Jam, Pamplona (ESP)
12/10 - Treibhaus, Innsbruck (AUS)
12/11 - Café Central, Wenheim (GER)
11/12 - Ring Di Alarm / Backstage, München (GER)
11/13 - Root Club/Altes Zollamt, Stuttgart (GER)
11/15 - Subkultur, Koblenz (GER)

Swedish hip-hop group Looptroop is doing a few dates in Japan and Australia in the near future. Here's what they've got confirmed so far (Australian dates to follow):

10/13 - Family [cross], Tokyo w/DJ Mitsu the Beats, Raythoguht
10/13 - Swedish Style exhibition at the Swedish embassy in Japan (7pm)
10/16 - DJ Bar Dai, Morioka w/DJ Cutz & DJ Jinkubo
10/17 - Macana, Sendai w/DJ Mitsu the Beats

In other news, Looptroop MCs Promoe and Cosmic went to Jamaica recently to record some tracks for the upcoming Promoe solo album "The Long Distance Runner". Read all about their adventures here, under the September news archive.

Chord's debut full-length "The Garden Around The Mansion" has been set for a September 26 release date. Various guests include fellow Swedish rappers Timbuktu and Promoe (Looptroop) along with Master Ace from the US and Rantaboko from S. Africa. Breakmacanix and Domingo produced.

JuJu Records has posted an exclusive mp3 of the track "2012" from Organism 12. Download here.

In other JuJu news, the new 12" single "Chillin" from Chords comes out August 25. Timbuktu and Ranto Boko guest on the a-side and Honestly guests on the b-side "Giants". The full album comes out later this fall and features guest spots from Masta Ace, Punchline, ToneDeff, Timbuktu, Ranto Boko and Promoe and production by Breakmecanix and Domingo.

I fixed a typo in one of the Madrugada mp3 links. Sorry about that. They should all work okay now.

Chalmers University of Technology in Göteborg will be holding a club three times a week all summer long called, ahem, Sommarklubben. Besides the usual DJs spinning there will also be live music. Scheduled so far:

06/06 - Royal Beat Conspiracy, Sparks of Seven
06/28 - Shout Out Louds, Homy
07/12 - David & the Citizens

More info when I get it.

The (International) Noise Conspiracy report that they are featured on a DJ Spooky mix that comes with the latest edition of Adbusters Magazine. Other artists including on the comp include Fugazi, Bad Brains, Sun Ra, and Public Enemy so check it out.

More entries on the ongoing media blitzkrieg from The Sounds - here's a number of upcoming American TV appearances they have scheduled:

05/22 - Last Call with Carson Daly on NBC, recorded in Las Vegas last week
05/26 - The View on ABC
TBA - Subterranean on MTV, more info to come

The Hellacopters have published their complete summer tour schedule:

05/31 - Donigton (GB) Download
06/07 - Nurburgring (D) Rock Am Ring
06/08 - Nurnberg (D) Rock Im Park
06/13 - Hultsfred (S) Hultsfredsfestivalen
06/14 - Berlin (D) Berlinova
06/15 - Oslo (N) Norwegian Wood
06/21 - Scheessel (D) Hurricane
06/22 - Neuhausen OE (D) Southside
06/27 - Kiruna (S) Kirunafestivalen
06/28 - Bonn (D) Rheinkultur
06/29 - Roskilde (DK) Roskildefestival
07/04 - Oulo (SF) Oluoln Yöt
07/05 - Turku (SF) Ruisrock
07/16 - Helsinki (SF) Olympiastadion w/The Rolling Stones
07/22 - Stockholm (S) Cirkus w/The Rolling Stones
08/02 - Korso (SF) Ankarock
08/30 - Jerez / Cadiz (ESP) Serie Z
09/12 - Stockholm (S) Gröna Lund
09/13 - Vitoria Gasteiz (ESP) Azkena

Burning Heart's latest signees Sparks of Seven have finally updated their website.

This week's MTV Up North Nordic video chart:

01. The Rasmus - In The Shadows
02. A-Teens - Perfect Match
03. Outlandish - Guantanamo
04. HIM - Funeral of hearts
05. Darude - Music
06. Jennifer Brown - Weak
07. Kwan - Shine
08. Mew - Comforting Sounds
09. The Sounds - Rock n´ Roll
10. Equicez - Live From Pass It
11. Melody Club - Cover Girl
12. Kristofer Åström & Hidden Truck - One Good Moment
13. Timbuktu - Ett Brev
14. Bertine Zetlitz - Girl Like You
15. The Jessica Fletchers - Let´s Go
16. Paragon - Försök Förstå
17. Surferosa - Neon Commando
18. Moon Gringo - Buzz Aldrin
19. Homy - Bus Stop
20. Pauline - Runnin´ Out Of Gaz

Challengers:
01. D-Coy feat. Acorn - I´ll Be There
02. The Cardigans - You´re The Storm
03. Charlie´s Magazine - Something That I Missed
04. Her Majesty - F.U.N.E.R.A.L
05. Elin Sigvardsson - Where To Start

Go to the MTVE.com site to watch and vote for your favorite.

Project-X will be having a record release show on May 31 for their new album "Modus Operandi" at Ground Zero in Växjö.

Here's the lineup for the 5th Fucking North Pole Festival which takes place over the next three days in Tromsø, Norway.

5/15 @ Driv: Amulet (Oslo), Turdus Musicus (Tromsø), Dominic (Bodø)
5/16 @ Driv: Misvær Ska Forening (Bodø), Lame Ducks (Oslo), Square (SWE)
5/16 @ Tvibit: Gatas Parlament (Oslo), Amulet (Oslo), Drunk (Oslo), Turdus Musicus (Tromsø)
5/17 @ Driv: DK (US), Os Replicantes (Brasil), Drunk (Oslo)
5/18 @ Driv: Mohammed(Horten), Los Fastidios (Italia), Nikkeby Lufthavn (Tromsø)

FNPF is the biggest independent rock festival in northern Norway and takes place twice a year. The next occurance is scheduled for sometime around September/October. More info here.

The German Phono Academy recently awarded Norway's Midnight Choir with a best album award in the rock/pop category for the album "Waiting for the Bricks to Fall". The award is given every quarter by "key industry representatives and respected music journalists" and qualifies the band for the album of the year competition.

This year's Nordic Council Music Award will be granted to an ethnic music artist. The nominees who will be competing for the 47k EUR prize:

Pierre Dørge & New Jungle Orchestra (DK)
Outlandish (DK)
Kimmo Pohjonen (FIN)
Gjallarhorn (FIN)
Kári Sverrisson (Faroe Islands)
Sigurður Flosason and Pétur Grétarsson (Iceland)
Steindór Andersen, Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson and Sigur Rós (Iceland)
Mari Boine (NOR)
Solo Cissokho (NOR)
Ellika Frisell (SWE)
Ziya Aytekin (SWE)
Anna Thastum Kuitse (Greenland)

Read more. Previous winners of the prestigious award have been Sunleif Rasmussen (2002), Palle Mikkelborg (2001), and Kaija Saariaho (2000).

Here's the top 20 Swedish albums of the week, as reported by Aftonbladet:

01. Robert Wells - Rhapsody in rock the complete collection
02. v/a - Fame Factory volym 5
03. The Cardigans - Long gone before daylight
04. Glenmark Eriksson Strömstedt - Den andra skivan
05. Timbuktu - The botten is nådd!
06. Lisa Nilsson - Samlade sånger 1992-2003
07. Simson Dupont - Simson Dupont
08. Jill Johnson - Discography
09. Antique - Blue love
10. Lars Winnerbäck och Hovet - Söndermarken
11. Cornelis Vreeswijk - Cornelis Vreeswijks bästa
12. Moneybrother - Blood panic
13. Kent - Vapen & ammunition
14. Siw Malmkvist - Siws bästa
15. Elin Sigvardsson - Saturday light naive
16. Gloria - People like you and me
17. The Refreshments - On the rocks
18. Roxette - The pop hits
19. The Sounds - Living in America
20. Mauro Scocco - Beat hotel

Aftonbladet has also published a short article discussing Magnus Carlson's (of the Weeping Willows) forthcoming solo album that he collaborated with Eggstone and film director Lukas Moodysson on. The record is called "Ett Kungarike För En Kram" and it hits stores on June 30. (in Swedish)

The Ark, Dom Galna Hundarna, The Narcissists, Shout Out Louds, Lola Barbershop and P-Danielsa are among the groups now confirmed for the Storsjöyran fest happening in Östersund this summer.

The guys from Looptroop are all hard at work on new projects. Promoe is in the process of doing a new solo album with a single to come in June. The other two guys, Cosmic and Embee aka Casual Brothers, have a new EP that also comes out in June that features a guest appearance by Christian Kjellvander of all people.

This week's Swedish college radio chart (from Dagensskiva):

Leaving the chart:
(07) N.E.R.D. "Things Are Getting Better"
(09) Miss Universum "Fertilize"
(12) Millenia Nova Ft. Iggy Pop "Rockicide"
(13) The Knife "You Take My Breath Away"
(14) Radiohead "There There"
(15) Florence Valentin "Allt dom bygger upp ska vi meja ner"
(17) Ed Harcourt "Watching the Sun Come Up"
(18) Audio Bullys "The Things"
(19) Zwan "Lyric"

The Dandelions have added one more date to their upcoming London tour. The full itinerary is now as follows:

05/22 - Gaz's Rockin' Blues
05/23 - Dragon Bar
05/24 - Cobden Club
05/26 - The Beachclub at Notting Hill Arts Club (new)
05/27 - Eyelash at Pop

Lullacry and Naglfar have both announced that they will be making their US debuts at this year's Milwaukee Metalfest which takes place July 25-26. The new Lullacry single "Alright Tonight" comes out May 23 on Spikefarm Records and Naglfar's latest album "Sheol" came out last month.

XL recordings imprint Rex Records will be putting out a new Radio Dept. single for the song "Liebling" on April 28. There's also word of a London show for around the same time, but no details yet.

Moneybrother has put up the "Reconsider Me" video for download: high / low

JuJu Records has put up an mp3 for the track "Imbumba Unity" which features Swedish MCs Timbuktu, Moe (Spotrunnaz), Promoe (Loop Troop), CosM.I.C. (Loop Troop), and South African MCs RantoBoko, Zweli, Tabs, Sniper and Incredible Hulk. The track was produced by Breakmecanix while the Swedes were on tour performing at Johannesburg, Durban, Capetown and various S. African locales.

Also from JuJu, comes the new Timbuktu album "The Botten Is Nådd" on April 28. Also produced by Breakmecanix, the CD will feature guest appearances from Chords, Supreme (Loop Troop), DJ Amato, Daniel Boyacioglu and Peps Persson.

That new Turboneyepro website www.scandinavianleather.com is now online, including samples and video from the new album.

The Hellacopters, Gate, The Sounds, and a reuniting DumDum Boys are among the bands confirmed for the upcoming Norweigan Wood festival. More info here.

Fireside's new album keeps getting positive reviews such as this one from Aftonbladet. You can listen to the band comment on the record themselves at that link too. (in Swedish)

The new Swedish metal 'supergroup' Nightrage has just signed a deal with Century Media to release the album "Sweet Vengeance" which was recorded at Studio Fredman by Fredrik Nordström. The band consists of drummer Per Jensen (The Haunted, Invocator), 'melodic' vocalist Tom Englund (Evergrey), vocalist Tomas Lindberg (ex-At the Gates, The Crown), guitarist Gus G. (Dream Evil, Firewind), guitarist Marios Iliopoulos (Exhumation), and bassist Brice Leclercq. Sounds like it could be pretty cool.

The Soundtrack of Our Lives, The Ark, and Mando Diao have all been confirmed for a show at Grona Lund in Stockholm on April 30. Tickets are 100 kr.

The Ghoules have set themselves up with a week of shows around Europe. The dates:

5/07 - Goteborg (S), Sticky Fingers
5/08 - Aachen (D), Haupquartier
5/09 - Chemnitz (D), Subway to Peter
5/10 - Hoyerswerda (D), Dock 28
5/12 - Wien (A), Shelter
5/13 - St. Pölten (A), Jesters
5/15 - Lustenau (A), Culturefactory
5/17 - Rheine (D), Dramabar

I updated yesterday's post with new info about Nicolai Dunger's backing band and their other music experience. Thanks again Niklas!

Dates are currently being booked for KVLR's West Coast/Southwest tour in early March. If you can help, please let me know.

Stickman Records reports that Motorpsycho has US and Japan tour plans in the works. No dates yet, but I'll keep you posted. The label also has revealed the title for the forthcoming Isolation Years record: "It's Golden". Again, no date yet, but I'll let you know.

Amorphis is working on mixing their new album with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, Moonspell, Sentenced) at Finnvox Studios. They expect to finished by the end of the month. No word yet on a new label for the band.

Keep your eyes on Norweigen electronic act Röyksopp as they're touring seven US cities in March. European sales are already climbing and accolades are accumulating, but they've yet to catch on fully over here. Will they break? Hype sure is building.

In a sign of potentially bigger things to come, booking agency Luger has now taken on the band Paris. Is the return of new-wave nigh?

DJ Embee (Loop Troop) is currently finishing up work on his new EP with Organism 12 and PSTQ. Four tracks and instruments, two produced by Embee, two by Breakmecanix. Look for it around late February or early March on JuJu Records.

Also from JuJu is the new Timbuk/Promoe (also Loop Troop) "Blind Justice" 12". It comes out on the 27th.

Here's an interesting short interview with Galder of Old Man's Child and Dimmu Borgir. Now resigned to just being a studio-only project, OMC's new album "In Defiance of Existence" just came out in Europe and will be out in the US on March 25 from Century Media.

Darkthrone will be adding exclusive new film footage to the Peaceville CDrom reissues of four of their old albums. As for what the footage will contain, here's what they had to say:

Fenriz and Nocturno Culto will film many hours at their stronghold somewhere in the wilderness in Norway. Like a reality-Darkthrone documentary. Every of the four album will contain at least 5 minutes of this rare piece of filming. They will drink, drink, listen to music, drink etc.....many things will be revealed. They will also interview eachother about all the Peaceville-albums. They will film that much, so it can edited to be a 30 min. documentary

NorthSide Records has new preview mp3s up on their website for upcoming releases from Värttinä and Mari Boine. Check 'em out. (scroll about 2/3rds of the way down the page)

Classic Swedish deathmetal band Dismember is currently working on their next album. The title is "Where Ironcrosses Grow" and it's due out around September on Hammerheart Records. Produced once again by drummer Fred Estby with help from engineer Olle Sandqvist, the new material is described as "darker, a little less melodic and more aggressive than ever" and lyrically "headed even more in the direction of describing war at its ugliest, stories about sick minds creating sick situations and loads of religious criticism." In other words, business as usual.